Sucker rod box cleaners



May 15, 1956 H. MCWORKMAN SUCKER ROD BOX CLEANERS INVENTOR Holt Mworkmun ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet l I. 6 W/ A 1 W iaiigii Filed June 28,1954 May 15, 1956 H. M WORKMAN 2,745,416

SUCKER ROD BOX CLEANERS Filed June 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORHolr M workmon ATTORNEYS United States Patent SUCKER ROD BOX CLEANERSHolt McWorkman, Tulsa, Okla.

Application June 28, 1954, Serial No. 439,695

8 Claims. (Cl. 134-47) This invention relates to cleaning apparatus andmore particularly to devices for cleaning the interior of hollowarticles such as the boxes of sucker rod joints used in oil wells.

The sucker rods of oil wells are commonly united by so-called pin andbox couplings comprising a box or socket member which is internallyscrew threaded and a pin member which screws into this box or socket.

The strain on these couplings is tremendous owing to the great length ofthe sucker rods, and it is, therefore, essential that the threadedjoints be absolutely tight. In practice, sand and other foreign matterfrequently becomes lodged in the threads of the sockets or boxes and itis of the utmost importance that this sand or the like he removed andthe threads thoroughly cleaned before the coupling is made.

The object of the present invention is, therefore, to devise a simpleand efficient device for cleaning the sockets or boxes of suchcouplings.

A further object is to devise such a device in which the working partsare so designed as to prevent sand and the like from entering the sameand especially from working its way into the space between moving parts.

With the above and other objects in view and to improve generally on thedetails of such apparatus, the invention consists in the constructionand combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through my improved cleaningdevice, showing a socket or box in position therein,

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof on a smaller scale, the socket or boxbeing omitted.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of thecylindrical central part of the device, showing the spiral groovestherein,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section essentially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a sucker rod showing two couplingstherein, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved device consists of abody or container 1, preferably formed of cast metal, having around itsupper edge a radially disposed flange 1 Rising centrally from the centerof the container and preferably cast integral therewith is a cylindricalmember 2 which I shall call a piston. Above this piston is a cylinder 3having a depending skirt portion 4 which surrounds the piston andengages the same with a sliding fit. The upper end of the cylinder 3 isclosed by means of an end wall 5 having a conical upper surface 6.

A helical compression spring 7 fits within the hollow piston 2 andextends up into the cylinder 3, engaging the flat inner surface of theend wall 5 and tending to push the cylinder upwardly.

2,745,416 Patented May 15, 1956 At a point normally just above the upperedge of the hollow piston 2, the cylinder 3 is formed with a pluralityof openings or ports 8 which, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, i

are preferably disposed at an angle of about 45.

The cylinder 3 is provided near its upper end with an annular shoulder10 which projects beyond and overhangs the body of the cylinder, and isalso provided near its lower end with a second annular shoulder 11 whichoverhangs the skirt 4.

The container 1 is provided with a cover or lid 12 which fits down uponthe flange 1 and is secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 13preferably carrying wing nuts as clearly shown in Fig. 1. This cover orlid is formed with a central opening around which is a rim having abevelled lower face shaped to conform with the slope of the conicalupper surface 6 of the cylinder end 5. This surface is provided with aplurality of ribs or lugs 9, which form between themselves drainagechannels permitting the return of the cleaning fluid to the container,as hereinafter described, these ribs or lugs engaging the bevelledsurface 15 of the top or lid.

Projecting upwardly from the lid or cover 12 is a circular and slightlyfunnel shaped guide 14 which surrounds the opening in the cover.

The end wall 5 has a central screw threaded opening and into thisopening is screwed the lower end 16 of a nozzle 16 which projects up asubstantial distance above the end wall 5 Within the guide 14.

This nozzle is provided with a plurality of radially extending ports orpassages, and between these ports or passages are set tufts of bristlesor the like 17, forming a brush.

Referring more particularly now to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen thaton the outside of the upper portion of the hollow piston 2 are formed apair of spiral grooves 2 and 2, preferably disposed at diametricallyopposite points, and in these spiral grooves freely work a pair of pins4 and 4 projecting inwardly from the skirt 4 of the piston 3, so thatupon relative longitudinal movement of the piston and cylinder, thecylinder is caused to rotate.

Referring to Fig. 5, sucker rods such as are used in oil wells are madeup of sections A united at their ends by couplings each comprising a boxor socket B and a pin C, screw threaded together.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated one of these boxes B as in position forcleaning, this box being placed within the guide 14 and over and aroundthe nozzle 16.

When the rod section carrying this box is pushed downwardly the spring 7yields, permitting the cylinder 3 to descend. The spiral grooves abovedescribed result in the cylinder, together with the nozzle 16 and brush17, being rotated within the box.

The cleaning liquid employed is usually a light petroleum oil and itfills the container 1 nearly to the top, as indicated by the line x inFig. 1. The liquid therefore enters through the ports 8 and fills theinterior of both I the piston and cylinder.

When, therefore, the cylinder is forced downwardly as above described,this liquid is trapped within the cylinder and piston by reason of theports 8 being closed by the piston 2, after the manner of a sleevevalve, and the pressure therefore forces the liquid up into and throughthe nozzle 16, discharging it forceably in the form of jets against theinterior of the box B. At the same time the spiral grooves cause thenozzle and brush 17 to rotate, thus effectively brushing and removingfrom the threads of the box any sand or other foreign matter that mayhave accumulated thereon. The liquid and foreign matter being dischargedfrom the lower end of the box flows down the conical surface 6 of theend wall of the cylinder between the lugs 9 and escapes around the edgeof the cylinder. It will .be particularly noted that the annularshoulder serves as a deflector to direct the returning liquid andforeign matter .away from the outside of the cylinder. This deflectingaction is increased by reason of the-fact that the walls of the'cylinder above the "shoulder 10 are slightly inclined inwardly asclearly shown in Fig. '1.

Not only is the foreign matter deflected away from the cylinder by theshoulder 10,-but it is prevented from entering the ports 8 by reason of"the overhanging shoulder 11. Furthermore, the skirt '4 of the cylinderextends down far enough to completely cover the spiral grooves 2 and 2*at all times, thus preventing any sand or other foreign matter lodgingin these grooves.

It will thus be seen that l have provided means for preventing theforeign matter from clogging entrance ports 8 and from becoming embeddedbetween the piston and cylinder or in the spiral grooves, and it isthought that the many advantages of such an arrangement will be readilyappreciated by those familiar with such matters.

It will be further noted that not only does the rim or flange l serve tosupport the lid'or cover but it also serves as a convenient handle bymeans of which the container may be picked up or transported. It will beseen that the lid or cover carrying the guide 14 may be readily removedwhen it is desired to inspect or clean out the interior of thecontainer.

What I claim is:

l. A sucker rod box cleaner comprising a container, a hollow pistonrigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the 'bottom'of saidcontainer and having an open upper end, a cylinder surrounding andfreely slidable over said piston, a removable cover for said container,and a spring within said piston and cylinder serving to hold the latterresiliently in engagement with said cover,

' the interior of said cylinder communicating with said container.

2. A sucker red box cleaner comprising a container, a hollow pistonrigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom of saidcontainer and having an open upper end, a cylinder surrounding :andfreely-slidable over said piston, a removable cover for said containerhaving an opening co-axial with but of smaller diameter than saidcylinder, the upper end of said cylinder being closedexcept for arelatively small central opening, an upwardly projecting nozzle set intosaid central opening,;and a spring urging said cylinder upwardly againstsaid cover, theinterior of said cylinder communicating with saidcontainer.

3. A sucker rod box-cleaner comprising a container, a hollow pistonrigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom of saidcontainer and having an open upper end, a cylinder surrounding andfreely slidable-over saidvvpiston, a cover for said container havinganopening co-axial with but of smaller diameter than saidcylinder, theupper end of said cylinder being closed except lfor a relatively smallcentral opening, an upwardly projecting nozzle set into said centralopening, an annular coupling guide carried by and projecting upwardlyfrom said cover around the opening therein, said guide being spaced:radially from said nozzle, and spring means :urging said cylinderupwardly into contact with said cover, the interior of said cylindercommunicating with saidcontainer.

4. A sucker rod box cleaner comprisinga container, a hollow ,pistonrigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom of saidcontainer and 'having &an open upper'end, a cylinder surrounding andfreely slidable over said piston, a cover for said container having anopening coaxial with but of smaller diameter than. said cylinder, theupper end of said cylinder being .closed'by a wall having a conicalupper-surface, said wall having a relativelysmall opening at the centerof the cone, a separately forrned, removable, upwardly projecting nozzleset into said small opening, spring means urging the conical surface "ofthe end 'wall of said cylinder into contac'twith the periphery of theopening in said cover, and said conical surface hav- .ing channelstherein permitting the passage of liquid outwardly therealong past thearea of contact with said cover into said container, the interior ofsaid cylinder communicating with said container.

5. A sucker rod box cleaner comprising a container, a hollow pistonrigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom of saidcontainer and having an open upper end, a cylinder surrounding andfreely slidable over said piston, a cover for said container having anopening co-axial with but of smaller diameter than said cylinder, theupper end of said cylinder being closed by a wall having a conical uppersurface, said wall having a relatively small opening .at the center ofthe cone, an upwardly projecting nozzle set into said small opening,spring means urging the conical surface of the end wall of said cylinderinto contact with the periphery of the opening in said cover, and saidconical surface having channels therein permitting the passage of liquidcutwardly therealong past the area of contact with said cover into saidcontainer, the outside diameter of the said cylinder at a pointimmediately below said upper endwall being enlarged and the enlargedportion terminating in an annular shoulder overhanging the lower portionof the cylinder, whereby liquid flowing from said conical surface isdischarged as a cascade from said overhanging shoulder clear of the sidewalls of the lower-portion of said cylinder.

6. A sucker rod box cleaner comprising a container, a hollow pistonrigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom of saidcontainer and having an open upper end, a cylinder surrounding andfreely slidable over said piston, a cover for said container having anopening co-axial with but of smaller diameter than said cylinder, theupper end of said cylinderbeing closed .by a wall having a conical uppersurface, said wall :having a relativelysmall opening at the center :ofthe cone, an upwardly projecting nozzle set into said small opening,spring means urging the conical surface of the end wall of said cylinderinto contact with the periphery of the opening in said cover, and saidconical surface having channels therein permitting the passage of liquidoutwardly therealong past the area of contact with-said cover into saidcontainer, said cylinder having -intake ports formed through the wallthereof'at a point lying just above the top edge of said piston when thecylinder-is in its uppermost position, .the outside diameter ofthe saidcylinder at a ,point immediately below said upper end wall beingenlarged, and the enlarged portion terminating in an annular shoulderoverhanging that portion of the cylinder wall in which said intake ports'are formed, whereby liquid and foreign matter fl'owin'g from saidconical surface are discharged as a cascade from said overhangingshoulder, clear-of said ports.

7. .A sucker rod box cleaner comprising a container,

a hollow piston rigidly secured to and extending upwardly from thebottom of said container and having an 'open upper end, a cylindersurrounding 'and'freely 'slidable over said piston, a cover for saidcontainer having an opening 'co-axial with but of smaller diameter thansaid cylinder, the upper end of-said cylinder being closed by a wallhaving a conical upper surface, said wall having a relatively smallopening at the center of the cone, an upwardly projecting nozzle setinto said small opening, spring means urging the conical surface of theend wall of said cylinder into contact with the periphery of the openingin said cover, and said conical surface having channels thereinpermitting the passage of liquid outwardly therealong past the area ofcontact with saidcover into said container, said cylinder having intakeports formed through the wall thereof at a pointlying just above the topedge of said piston when the cylinder is in its uppermost position, andmeans whereby liquid and foreign matter flowing from said conicalsurface are discharged as a cascade, clear of that portion of the sidewalls of the cylinder in which said ports are formed.

8. A sucker rod box cleaner comprising a container, a hollow pistonrigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom of saidcontainer and having an open upper end, a cylinder surrounding andfreely slidable over said piston a spring within said piston andcylinder tending to move the latter upwardly, and means to limit theupward movement of said cylinder, the wall of said cylinder having anannular overhanging shoulder, and having intake ports extendingtherethrough at a point immediately below said shoulder and lying justabove the upper edge of said piston when said cylinder its uppermostposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS136,423 Dick Mar. 4, 1873 1,807,114 Wright May 26, 1931 1,982,497Cotchett Nov. 27, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,428 Great Britain of 1888155,444 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1919

